Earring clamps having a threaded shank adjustable in a threadless opening



Nov. 29, 1960 P. E. KETTELL 2,961,854 EARRING CLAMPS HAVING A THREADED SHANK ADJUSTABLE m A THREADLESS OPENING Filed March 20, 1959 FIG. I

FIG.3

FIG. 2

FIG.4

INVENTOR. PHILIP E. KETTELL ATTORN EY United States Patent EARRING CLAMPS HAVING A THREADED SHANK ADJUSTABLE IN A THREADLESS OPENING Philip E. Kettell, North Kingstown, R.I., assignor to E. A. Adams & Son, Inc., Providence, R.I., a corporation of Rhode Island Filed Mar 20, 1959, Ser- No. 800,772

3 Claims. 01. 63-1 A further object of the present invention is to provide an earring clamp which eliminates the tappingof the screw support.

A further" object of the present invention is to provide an earring clamp having the above advantages which is simple in construction and easy and economical to manufacture. i V ,Withthe ahoveand other pbjects' and advantageous features in view, my invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts, more fully disclosed in the detailed description following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, and more particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an earring clamp embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section thereof.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the spring clamp portion in open position.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a modified form of spring clamp housing.

The most common type of device for clamping an earring to the ear lobe comprises a U-shaped member having a clamping screw extending through one arm and pressing the ear lobe against the opposite arm. Other types are provided with non-adjustable spring arms. Where the screw is used, the clamps are mass produced and the clamp arm is provided with a threaded opening to hold the screw. Since the arm is thin, only a few turns of thread can be provided. The result is that the screw-wiggles in the loose mounting and does not hold eifectively. After a while it has a tendency to loosen and the earring falls off.

The present invention is designed to overcome these disadvantages. It combines the spring and screw and insures that the screw is steady and will not loosen. The clamp of the present invention permits the wearer to make a fine adjustment of the pressure on the ear and the adjustment need not be disturbed in removing or putting on the earring.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the clamp comprises a U-shaped portion 10 having a long arm 11 to whichthe ornamental portion of the earring is normally attached. The other arm 12 is much shorter and is provided with the combination spring and screw clamp of the present invention.

A housing 13 is pivotally mounted on the arm 12. The housing 13 is generally rectangular in cross section and tapers upwardly to a closed top portion 14. The bottom of the housing is open and has rounded integral depending ear portions 15 into which the pivot pins 16 extend. The arm 12 extends into the lower end of the housing 13 and just beyond the pivot point 16 is provided with a flattened end portion 17. The end 17 is tilted at a slight angle inwardly towards the arm 11 and is provided at its rear edge with a substantially vertical flat portion 18.

Just below the upper end 14 of the housing 13 the housing walls are provided with lined openings through which the screw clamp 19 extends. The outer end of the screw clamp 19 is provided with the knob 20 and the inner end with the clamping pad 21. Since the housing 13 is made from thin sheet stock the edges of the opening engage the thread on the screw 19 and permit it to be screwed inwardly and outwardly, inthe usual manner. The spaced walls support the screw 19 at spaced points to keep it in rigid axial alignment. 1 A spring 22 is positioned vertically in the housing 13. The upper end of the spring 22 bears against that portion of the screw 19 which is passing through the housing. The lower end of the spring 22 rests in a cup 23 which normally bears against the flat end '17 of the arm 12. In the position shown in Fig. 2 the pressure of the spring and cup on the flat end 17 of the arm 12 will tend to hold the housing 13 in vertical position and it will resist any movement to pivot outwardly. The screw clamp 19 can be used to tighten the clamp 'on the ear and the spring 22'will yieldingly retain it in'plaee without excessive pressure. The clamp can be removed without disturbing the position of the screw 19 by forcing the clamp into the position shown in Fig. 2. This occurs with a snap action as the cup 23 rides over the corner between the surfaces 17 and 18 into the position shown in Fig. 3.

In addition to the foregoing action, the pressure of the upper end of the spring 22 on the screw 19 forces it against the upper edges of the openings and provides a frictional lock. It will be found that the screw has a slight resistance to turning movement and will stay put in any position. This insures against accidental loosening of the screw. The spring 22 therefore has a double function, it holds the screw in position and holds the housing in position on the arm 12.

In the construction illustrated any type of spring may be used. In Fig. 4 the U-shaped member 24, housing 25, and screw clamp 26 is the same as that shown in Fig. 2. However, the spring 27 is a leaf spring bent into a zig-zag shape. It is preferable that the spring bends conform to the taper of the housing as shown in Fig. 4. In this form no lower cup is required. The bottom end of the spring terminates in a flat arm 28 which rests on the flattened of the member 24. To prevent snagging, the free end of the spring may be curled inwardly as at 29 at both the upper and lower ends.

The housing 13 shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive may be formed by a drawing operation. However, it is much simpler to form the housing as shown in Fig. 5. In this figure the housing 13' is formed from flat stock folded over with an integral top portion 14' and a depending ear portion 15'. In both forms of housing it is contemplated that the opening for the screw will be large enough so that the screw can be inserted quickly without threading. The spring pressure will then provide the necessary locking action.

The above construction thus provides a screw clamp in which the screw is firmly held in alignment and is frictionally retained in position to resist loosening. The screw support is spring actuated to provide a yielding pressure and to permit movement of the screw into open position without disturbing the setting. Other advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. An earring clamp comprising a U-shaped base hav ing a long and arshort arm, an elongated housing pivotally mounted, at the end of said short arm, the end face of said short arm being flattened, a screw clamp having a threaded shank extending transversely through horizontally aligned openings in the upper part of said housing and extending toward the upper end of said long arm, the edges of said housing openings cooperating with said threaded shank to permit said screw clamp to be advanced or retracted by turning movement, and a coil spring in said housing having a bearing member at its lower end bearing against the flattened end face of said short arm to yieldingly retain said housing in vertical position in alignment with said short arm but permitting swinging movement of said housing in position at right angles to said short arm, the upper end of said coil spring bearing against said threaded shank.

2. An earring clamp comprising a U-shaped base having a long and a short arm, an elongated housing pivotally mounted at the end of said short arm, the end face of said short arm being flattened, a screw clamp having a threaded shank extending transversely through horizontally aligned openings in the upper part of said housing and extending toward the upper end of said long arm, and a coil spring in said housing having a bearing member at its lower end bearing against the flattened end face of said short arm to yieldingly retain said housing in vertical position in alignment with said short arm but permitting swinging movement of said housing in position at right angles to said short arm, the upper end of said coil spring bearing against said threaded shank, said end face of said short armbeing tilted at a slight angle toward said long arm, the upper outer portion of said short arm and said end face forming camming surfaces at substantially right angles to each other for yieldingly retaining said housing in substantially vertical or horizontal positions.

3. An earring clamp comprising a U-shaped base having a long and a short arm, an elongated housing pivotally mounted at the end of said short arm, the end face of said short arm being flattened, a screw clamp having a threaded shank extending transversely through horizontally aligned openings in the upper part of said housing and extending toward the upper end of said long arm, the edges of said housing openings cooperating with said threaded shank to permit said screw clamp to be advanced or retracted by turning movement, and a coil spring in said housing having a bearing member at its lower end bearing against the flattened end face of said short arm to yieldingly retain said housing in vertical position in alignment with said short arm but permitting swinging movement of said housing in position at right angles to said short arm, the upper end of said coil spring bearing against said threaded shank, said end face of said short arm being tilted at a slight angle toward said long arm, the upper outer portion of said short arm and said end face forming camming surfaces at substantially right angles to each other for yieldingly retaining said housing in substantially vertical or horizontal positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,343,062 Kennison Feb. 29, 1944 2,400,513 Jellinek May 21, 1946 2,708,128 Arzt May 10, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 805,368 France Aug. 22, 1936 

